Eva Herzigova, a Czechoslovakian born model and actress, has had a versatile career spanning twenty-six years. Despite her lack of training, she won her first modeling competition at the age of sixteen and went on to achieve international fame in the modeling world. Renowned as one of the supermodels of the 1990s, she has appeared in numerous print and television advertisement campaigns for well-known companies worldwide. In addition to her successful modeling career, she has also made a successful transition to film, with appearances in several feature length films. Today, she continues to work in the modeling industry, act in films, and fulfill her role as a mother to her three children.
Quick Facts
- Italian Celebrities Born In March Age: 50 Years, 50 Year Old Females
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Gregorio Marsiaj, Tico Torres; children: Edward Marsiaj, George Marsiaj, Philipe Marsiaj
- Born Country: Czech Republic
- Models
- Actresses
Childhood & Early Life
Eva Herzigova was born into a family of three siblings. Her mother worked as a secretary and her father was an electrician and former professional swimmer. During her youth, Herzigova and her siblings were very athletic and participated in multiple sports, including gymnastics, basketball, track, and cross-country skiing. Initially, she believed that her older sister had a better chance of becoming a model. However, when her sister declined to participate in a modeling competition in Prague in 1989, Herzigova decided to enter and ended up winning. This victory led her to leave home with plans to model for only three months, but she was approached by a Paris-based modeling agency and began her successful career.
Career
Herzigova’s modeling career took off in 1992 when she became the face of ‘Guess?’ jeans in print advertisements. This opportunity opened the doors to numerous assignments and endorsements. She also made her acting debut in the UK TV movie ‘Inferno’ alongside other supermodels. In the following years, she represented ‘Maybelline Cosmetics’ in television and print ads and starred in films such as ‘Guardian Angel’ and ‘L’amico del Cuore’. In 1996, she was chosen to represent ‘Wonderbra’ in print advertisements for two years. She continued to appear in movies, including ‘Just for the Time Being’, ‘Modigliani’, and ‘Twisted Tango’. In 2008, she signed a contract with ‘L’Oreal Cosmetics’ for television commercials, and the following year she appeared in commercials for ‘Dolce & Gabbana Women’s Fragrance’. Her film roles continued with ‘Cha ChaCha’ in 2013 and ‘Storyteller’ in 2014. Her most recent project is the 2014 fashion art film ‘Imagine Fashion Presents: Decadent Control’.
Major Works
One of Herzigova’s most significant works was her appearance in the 1994 advertisements for ‘Wonderbra’, which gained international attention. She also played the female lead in the 2004 short film ‘Twisted Tango’ and took on the roles of producer and costume designer, further establishing her involvement in the film industry.
Awards & Achievements
In 2000, Herzigova won the ‘Grand Jury Prize’ for ‘Best Actress’ at the ‘New York International Independent Film & Video Festival’ for her performance in ‘Just for the Time Being’. Her work in the ‘Wonderbra’ campaign also earned her international recognition, and in 2011, the billboard ad was voted the ‘Most Iconic Outdoor’ ad by the ‘Outdoor Media Centre’.
Personal Life & Legacy
Herzigova was previously married to musician Tico Torres from 1996 to 1998. In 2002, she began a relationship with Italian businessman Gregorio Marsiaj, and they have three sons together. In 2003, she sued Canadian retailer ‘La Senza’ for breach of contract after they refused to pay her for a catalog photo shoot. The case was settled out of court. Herzigova is known for living a more simplistic and environmentally friendly lifestyle, which she became more aware of after watching Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ while pregnant with her first son.
Trivia
In 1998, Herzigova was rumored to be in a relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio, although it was never confirmed. She turned down the role of Mandy in Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ due to the number of nude scenes. In 2003, ‘La Senza’ refused to pay her for a photo shoot because of her shortened hair, leading to a lawsuit that was later settled out of court.